Grounding and bonding for high leg center tapped delta transformer

muddyboots

Member
Location
Florida
Occupation
Electrician
I have a 3 phase 45 kva, step down, 480 delta to 240/120 high leg delta with a center tap nuetral, and I'm a little confused with regard to grounding and bonding.
Xfmr Primary: 70A 3ph (Cu)3-#4 + #8 EGC.
Xfmr Secondary: 150A 3ph (Al)4-2/0 + #2 SSBJ
GEC: (Cu) #4
This is one of many step down xfmrs at a new construction, production facility, with GECs being bonded to the grounding system through building steel.
One thing that's throwing me off is the riser diagram is calling for 3ph 4 wire, but the panel schedule is calling for 3ph 3 wire, which, that may be neither here nor there.
I have my primary EGC bonded to transformer case, and my secondary SSBJ bonded to the transformer case. Does the GEC bond to the transformer case as well? Or does it have to terminate to x-4? Similar to how you would terminate your GEC to x-0, in a typical step down 480 delta to 208/120 wye xfmr, with a bonding jumper bonded to xfmr case?
The buss on the x-4 is sized to only accommodate one lug, which seems to indicate there is no bonding jumper. Is there even a nuetral ground bond required on this type of system, being that it's separately derived? Is that taken care of internally? Is the nuetral even a "grounded conductor" in a center tap high leg delta system? If this were to be a corner grounded high leg delta transformer, what would be different? Am I even in the ballpark?
Regardless I appreciate any advice and insight you guys may be able to provide me, and I appreciate you taking the time out your day. I hope this is an appropriate thread for this forum and doesn't veer too far off topic. Thanks again. P.S. I Tried to upload a picture to this post not sure if it made it through though.

~muddyboots
 

jaggedben

Senior Member
Location
Northern California
Occupation
Solar and Energy Storage Installer
I have a 3 phase 45 kva, step down, 480 delta to 240/120 high leg delta with a center tap nuetral, and I'm a little confused with regard to grounding and bonding.
...
This is one of many step down xfmrs at a new construction, production facility, with GECs being bonded to the grounding system through building steel.
I'm a bit surprised to see high-leg delta being used in new construction, but I'll take your word for it as far as answering the questions below.
I have my primary EGC bonded to transformer case, and my secondary SSBJ bonded to the transformer case. Does the GEC bond to the transformer case as well? Or does it have to terminate to x-4? Similar to how you would terminate your GEC to x-0, in a typical step down 480 delta to 208/120 wye xfmr, with a bonding jumper bonded to xfmr case?
I can't answer what's most typical, but the NEC gives you the option to land the GEC at the transformer or at the first means of disconnect for the secondary, provided you put your system bonding jumper at the same location.

The buss on the x-4 is sized to only accommodate one lug, which seems to indicate there is no bonding jumper. Is there even a nuetral ground bond required on this type of system, being that it's separately derived? Is that taken care of internally? Is the nuetral even a "grounded conductor" in a center tap high leg delta system?
Assuming you truly have high-leg delta, the NEC requires the neutral to be grounded and bonded. So, yes, it is a grounded conductor. A "neutral-to-ground bond" is required for any grounded system under the NEC ; technically it's the System Bonding Jumper, see 250.30(A)(1). Not bonding the neutral in a separately derived system would be bad.

If this were to be a corner grounded high leg delta transformer, what would be different? Am I even in the ballpark?
In a corner grounded system there would be no neutral, just three phase conductors, one of which would be grounded. Not totally unlike a residential 120/240 system, except the voltages and phase angles would be totally difference. It's a different animal from a high-leg delta.

One thing that's throwing me off is the riser diagram is calling for 3ph 4 wire, but the panel schedule is calling for 3ph 3 wire, which, that may be neither here nor there.
Possibly some circuits don't need the neutral, or possibly you've misunderstood the system design and it isn't high-leg-delta. Either way I'd consult the designer and transformer nameplate and make sure the equipment matches the designer's intent and you know how it's supposed to be wired.
 
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